Essentially, this practice (effective in combating all of our addictions) first asks you to ACKNOWLEDGE your addiction – simply pausing long enough during your moments of sadness or worry or agitation to recognize that you are suffering from seriousness.

Then, it is important to CONSOLE your ego, first by thanking it for helping you to survive the traumas of your childhood, and then by reassuring it that you will never abandon it completely; that even though you will in-deed be doing something “radically positive” in your immediate future, you are not abandoning it or its seriousness forever. You are not committing to being Joy-full for the rest of your life – only for the next few moments.

Finally, all that remains is the actively TRANSCEND  your seriousness – first by remembering how Good it is to be alive (even during life’s more difficult moments), and secondly by actively doing something Kind for another, for your community, or for the planet.

And as far as the latter goes, here are a few tips to help you get started:

TIP #01: SHRUG & SIGH & SMILE

For starters, whenever you sink into the sludge of seriousness, it can be very helpful to shrug your shoulders, breathe a deep sigh, and open up a large smile.

This combination of movements alone is often enough to release the ego’s hold on your Reality – often enough to allow you to remember that life is never as bad as it seems, that there is Goodness in every happenstance, that every “failure” of another is an opportunity to have Compassion for them, and that every “failure” of our own is merely a temporary conservation of our innate Greatness.

Make a huge mistake? Shrug, sigh and smile … Apologize for whatever harm was done, attempt to make amends, and then get on with trying to do some Good.

Saddened by the news? Shrug, sigh and smile … Turn off your TV (or your radio, or the Internet, or your friends’ gossip), find something positively inspirational to share with others, and then get on with trying to do some Good.

Get snubbed by a friend? Shrug, sigh and smile … Forgive their temporary callousness, extend your open arms of Friendship anew, and then get on with trying to do some Good.

Vilified by an enemy? Shrug, sigh and smile … Forgive them for their hurtful choice, have compassion for their errant (and obviously pain-filled) state of mind, and then get on with trying to do some Good.

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, Joy follows like a sunbeam that never leaves.” ~ inspired by Buddha

TIP #02: PLAY WHILE WORKING

In our “built-backwards” modern societies, many of us feel forced to spend far more time working jobs that we don’t like (&/or jobs that seem Meaning-less) than enjoying playing with friends and family (or reveling in Nature).

This can tempt us to feel quite serious indeed.

A solution? Make your job your playground.

On the way to work each day, choose to remember just why it is that you are doing so – to have a warm home when it is cold, to have a roof over your head when it rains, to help feed yourself &/or your family. You may not like your job, and yet you are allowed to remember that even the most mundane of tasks has great Purpose.

“Man is most nearly his True Self when he exudes the seriousness of a child at play.” ~ inspired by Heraclitus

Also, as far as it does not adversely affect the safety of others, you are allowed to have fun at work… Tell jokes or share funny stories or do goofy things in order to bring a smile to the faces of those around you … And remember to laugh yourself. You can always have a good time while still doing a good job.

“Sincerity does not have to be serious … It is actually bubbling with joy, radiating with an inner Happiness. ~ inspired by Osho

And finally, make your workplace Meaning-full. Be Kind to those you encounter there. A smile and a gentle word are powerful when given to another who is feeling down. So find someone each day at work who looks like they need a lift, and then be the helping hand that allows them to climb back into the light of Gratitude & Peace. A short yet sincere compliment or a simple Caring word is often more than enough.

TIP #03: SERVE OTHERS SELFLESSLY

Seriousness requires that you focus on your self and your own life, so it is an instant cure for seriousness when you choose instead to focus on soothing another’s pain or helping another to revel in their Joy.

In those times when you feel sad, reach out to ease another’s sadness …

In those times when you feel worried, reach out to soothe another’s worry …

In those times when you feel agitated, reach out to another who is suffering from anger or frustration.

Do so immediately, do so subtly … and remember to do so Joy-fully.

“Service which is rendered without willingness helps neither the servant nor the served. And yet all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of Joy.” ~ inspired by Gandhi

…..

“The ego can dominate your life only if you take yourself too seriously … The ego needs sadness to rule, and seriousness creates that sadness in you … So choose to laugh, and create chances for other people to laugh. Laughter has tremendous beauty, a lightness. It will bring lightness to you, and it will give you wings to fly.” ~ inspired by Osho